PRINTER'S NO. 3290
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No.
2692
Session of
2022
INTRODUCED BY MATZIE, MARSHALL, PISCIOTTANO, T. DAVIS, KINSEY,
FREEMAN, GUENST, SCHLOSSBERG, McNEILL, MADDEN, SANCHEZ AND
HOWARD, JUNE 21, 2022
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON HUMAN SERVICES, JUNE 21, 2022
AN ACT
Establishing the LIHEAP Advisory Committee.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Short title.
This act shall be known and may be cited as the LIHEAP
Advisory Committee Act.
Section 2. Definitions.
The following words and phrases when used in this act shall
have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
context clearly indicates otherwise:
"Advisory committee." The LIHEAP Advisory Committee
established under section 3(a).
"Department." The Department of Human Services of the
Commonwealth.
"Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Act of 1981." The Low-
Income Home Energy Assistance Act of 1981 (Public Law 97-35, 42
U.S.C. § 8621 et seq.).
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"Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program" or "LIHEAP." A
federally funded program that provides financial assistance in
the form of cash and crisis grants to low-income households for
home energy bills and is administered by the department.
"Secretary." The Secretary of Human Services of the
Commonwealth.
"State plan." The State Plan for LIHEAP prepared by the
department as required by section 2605(c) of the Low-Income Home
Energy Assistance Act of 1981 (42 U.S.C. § 8624(c)).
Section 3. Advisory committee and legislative oversight.
(a) Establishment and purpose.--The LIHEAP Advisory
Committee is established to advise the secretary on the
administration of the LIHEAP block grant, including a review of
the proposed State plan and recommendations on the final State
plan.
(b) Duty of department.--The department shall review and
give deference to the information and recommendations that are
provided by the advisory committee and that are not inconsistent
with State law.
(c) Members.--
(1) The members of the advisory committee shall be
appointed by the secretary and represent the following:
(i) Consumer and advocacy interests.
(ii) Participating energy vendors.
(iii) Other concerned citizens of this Commonwealth.
(2) In addition to the members provided for in paragraph
(1), the advisory committee shall include:
(i) The chairperson and minority chairperson of the
Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure Committee
of the Senate or their designees.
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(ii) The chairperson and minority chairperson of the
Consumer Affairs Committee of the House of
Representatives or their designees.
(iii) The chairperson and minority chairperson of
the Health and Human Services Committee of the Senate or
their designees.
(iv) The chairperson and minority chairperson of the
Human Services Committee of the House of Representatives
or their designees.
(d) Chairperson.--The following apply to the chairperson of
the advisory committee:
(1) One member of the advisory committee shall serve as
the chairperson.
(2) The position of chairperson shall change annually.
(3) The same member shall not serve as chairperson more
than once in any four-year period.
(4) For the purpose of selecting a chairperson, the
position shall revolve annually among representatives of the
consumer and advocacy interests, energy vendors, concerned
citizens and legislative members.
Section 4. Effective date.
This act shall take effect immediately.
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